Firing and interlocking gear for torpedo tubes



Feb. 3,1925

1,525,359 E. G. BJORKLUND FIRING AND INTERLOCKING GEAR FOR TOPPEDO TUBES Filed May 10. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 3, 1925. 1,525,359

E. s. BJORKLUND FIRING AND INTERLOCKING GEAR FOR TORPEDO TUBES Filed May 10, 4 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 1. 53:: N I g Q3 I "3 H N 'W N1 I Patented Feb. 3, 1925.

ERIC G. BJORKLUND, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE, LAKE TOR- PEDO BOAT COI'EPANY, OF BRIDG-EPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF IVIAINE.

FIRING AND INTERLOCKING Application filed May 10,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERIC G. BJORKLUND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Firing and Interlocking Gears for Torpedo Tubes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

In the use of submarine torpedo tubes, whether installed in vessels or in land'batteries, there is danger, due either to ignorance, carelessness or inexperience on the part of the operator, of the breech door of the tube being opened while the muzzle door is open, which results in entrance of sea water through the tube with its attendant hazard; or of firing a torpedo while the muzzle door remains closed, which, obviously, would cause serious damage; or of premature actuation of the firing control from a control station, which might result in injury to those manning the tube, and it is imperative that some means be provided for automatically insuring against such improper operation to the end that accidents and injury to the submarine boat, when the tube is so installed, and to those manning the tube, may be prevented.

The main object of this invention is, there fore, to provide a device whichI call a firing and interlocking gear, which is so construct ed and arranged that,-in normal operation, the breech door cannot be opened until the muzzle door is closed, and vice versa; and the firing mechanism cannot be actuated unless the breech door is closed and the muzzle door open. But, it is sometimes desir able for the purpose of ascertaining Whether or not the firing mechanism is functioning properly, or for practice, to fire an air slug from the tube with the breech door open and the muzzle door closed, thus reversing normal operating conditions, and my gear is so constructed and arranged that this may be done without danger of subsequent failure of the device in the functions of its normal operation.

Another object or the invention is to reluce the swirl caused by the escape of an excess of air in the wake of the fired torpedo, by automatically closing the firing door is open.

GEAR FOR, TORPEDO TUBES.

1924. Serial No. 712,308.

valve when the pressure of the air in the impulse tank has been reducedto a predetermined relative point. This is accom plished by mechanism combined with the firing valve and which I term a swirl reducer A still further object is to so construct all the parts of the mechanism that it may be rugged and strong and proof against faulty or ignorant manipulation or forcing; and to interpose at various points in the lines conducting compressed air, means to guard against premature actuation of any of the vital mechanisms due to the building up of air pressure by leakage.

With these and other objects in view, my invention'consists, essentially, in the combination with a torpedo tube having a breech door and a muzzle door, of means arranged adjacent to the breech door for imparting opening and closing movement ta the muzzle door, and means associated with the breech door and cooperating with the muzzle door actuating means for preventingvopcration of the muzzle door actuating means when the breech door is open, and for preventing opening of the breech door when the muzzle And the invention consists, further, in compressed air torpedo firing devices associated With the torpedo tube and so interconnected with the muzzle door actuating means as to be, under normal operating conditions, inoperative when the muzzle door is closed; and in a swirl reducer combined with the firing devices; and in various other combinations and arrangements of parts, as I will proceed now to explain and finally claim.

' In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention, in the several figures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic perspective view of mechanism embodying my invention, parts being broken away and shown in section in the'interest of clearness. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the breech. door and breech end of the torpedo tube with the breech door in open position, parts of the interlocking mechanism being omitted. Fig- 3 is an end view of theparts shown in Fig. 2, but with the door closed. Fig. 4 is an out board end view of the muzzle door and as muzzle or outboard end ofthe tube;

sociated parts. Fig. is a sectional view of the starting valve and its operating mechanism.

The torpedo tube 1 may be of any usual or approved construction, and is provided at its inboard end with a breech door 2 and at its outboard-end with a muzzle door 3. The breech dooris provided with a plurality of segmental lugs 4 adapted to enter corresponding recesses 5 in a ring 6 mounted upon the end of the torpedo tube and arranged for rotative movement thereon, so that when the breech door is closed and the ring 6 is rotated, the portions of the ring between the recesses 5 will interlock with the lugs 4 on the door and will wedge the door tightly closed and hold it closed. Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, the breech door is hinged at 7 on a bracket 8 carried by the torpedo tube, and the ring 6 is provided with a rack segment 9 meshed. by a pinion 10. This pinion 10 is journalled upon a shaft 11 carried in an extension 12 0f the bracket 8 and is provided with a squared end 13 to receive a handle 14. Aswill be apparent, rotation of the shaft 11 and with it the pinion 10 by means of the handle 14 will, through the rack 9, rotate the rin 6 so that the recesses 5 may be adjusted relatively to the lugs 4.

When the ring 6 has been rotated to the position shown in Figs. 1', 2 and 3, to permit opening of the breech door, and the breech door is opened, a latch member 15 carried by the door will engage with a lug 16 carried by the ring and will hold the ring in this position until disengagement of the latch and lug when the breech door is again closed. The purpose of this arrangement will appear later. 7

Mounted in suitable bearings carried by the torpedo tube is a shaft 17 having a squared end 18 for the reception of a handle or wrench and extending forward tor 11s shaft carries at its muzzle end a worm 19 (Fig. 4)- which meshes with a sector 20 mounted upon the end of a shaft 21 carried in, suitable bearings 22 in a bracket 23 mounted upon the end of the torpedo tube, and this shaft carries a hinge member 24 havingbearing arms 25 to which are pivoted the bearing. members 26 which carry the muzzle door 3. The hinge member 24 is also provided with a finger 27 which spans the muzzle door. By this arrangement it; will be seen that upon rotation of the shaft 17 by means of a suitable handle or: wrench applied to the, squared end 18 thereof, the muzzle. door actuated by the worm andseotor gearing may be opened and closed, and in this opening; and closing movement the finger 27 and'the hinge ment her; 24 will permit ofa limited swinging movement of the muzzle door upon its bearings 25, 26. This limited relative move-- ment of the muzzle door in its opening and closing movement results in the proper closing of the door upon its seat at the end of the tube.

Referring now to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the breech end of the shaft 17is provided with a worm 28 cooperating with nut 29 carried in a suitable housing 30'and slidable therein longitudinally of the shaft 17 under the influence of the worm 28 when the shaft is rotated. Mounted in suitable bearings 31 is a shaft 32 carrying 'asegmental gear 33 which meshes with a segmental rack 34. carried by the'ring 6, and on this shaft 32 is a cam abutment 35 which, when the muzzle dooris closed and'the breech door is opened, assumes the position shown in Fig. 1, in which it lies in the path of movement of the: nut 29 and prevents turning of the shaft 17 to open the muzzle door by forming an abutment limitingflthe movement of the nut lengthwise of the shaft 17. M'orever, when these parts are in this position and the breech door is open, the latch 15 and lug16 are interengaged and turn-- ingof ring 6 is prevented thereby preventing movement of abutment out of the way of nut 29. V

Similarly, when the breech door has been closed and locked, and the muzzle door has been opened by appropriate rotation of the shaft 17, the ring. 6 having, through the engagementof the rack with the gear 33, moved. the cam abutment 35 out of the path of movement of the nut 29, the nut will lie in such position that should an attempt be made to rotate the ring 6 for the purpose of unlocking the breech door, the cam abutment will not be capable of rotation because it will be stopped by engagement with the outer surface of the nut 29 and consequently, when the muzzle door is open, the breech door cannot be opened.

Departing from the common practice in the location of the firing valve of torpedo tubes, instead of mounting this valve directly upon the torpedo tube, I mount my firing valve assembly, indicated by the numeral 36, upon the impulse tank 37. This firing-valve assembly comprises a stop valve 38 upon the body 39- of which is mounted the body 40 of the firing valve. The firingvalve comprises a head 41 having a stem 42 and seating upon a. seat 43. The stem 42 passes through a gland 44 and is provided with a piston head 45. Between the piston head 45 and the gland 44 are introduced springs 46 and 47 Both of these springs cushion the downward movement of the piston and prevent hammering, and the spring 47' is made quite heavy so as to cushion the hardest impact of which the piston is capable under the influence of the compressed air admitted above it. The

spring 46 in addition to its cushioning function, aids in returning the valve to closed position.

Arranged in the same body 40 as the firing valve is a swirl reducer, comprising a spring 48 adapted normally to retard the seating action of the valve, and this spring is backed up by a piston 49 adjustable in a cylinder 50 by means of a threaded rod 51 passing through a gland 52 with its thread engaging a complemental thread in the bearing 53 of a yoke 54, and carrying at its upper end a handwheel 55 by which it may be suitably adjusted to accommodate the swirl reducing effect of the device to the depth below the surface at which the torpedo is discharged. This depth is indicated by appropriate calibrations in pounds of pressure upon a scale 56. These calibrations are previously determined by trial. The rod 51 carries an indicator 57 cooperating with the calibrations of tie scale. The action of the swirl reducer, combined with the action of the springs 46 and 47, tends to so retard the seating of the firing valve witlrregard to the depth at which the torpedo is fired, that the valve will seat at such a time as to prevent excessive discharge of air from the impulse tank behind the torpedo after it has leftthe torpedo tube, thereby diminishing the amount of swirl or foaming in the wake of the torpedo and conserving the pressure air in the impulse tank.

In order to permit escape of air beneath the piston 45 I provide a small aperture 58. This aperture may be of such a size that, if desired, the trapped air will escape so slowly that it will provide a cushioning means for the piston in addition to the springs 46 and 47.

A. large pipe 59 extends from the firing valve body to the check valve 60 arranged upon the torpedo tube, and adapted to admit air thereto behind the torpedo. This check valve has a stem 61 slidable in a bearing 62 and provided with an'abutment 63 against which acts a spring 64 tending normally to hold the valve upon its seat 65. Below this abutment 63 is a collar 66 slidable in a casing 67 and adapted to cushion the opening movement of the valve by striking against a resilient butter 68. Should the valve become stuck in open position due to corrosion, dirt, grit, or the like, it may be raised to its seat by means of a hand lever indicated at 69 passing through a suitable stufiing box in the side of the valve body and provided with a yoke 70 embracing the valve stem and adapted to cooperate with a head 71 thereon.

At all times when the stop valve 38 is open, pressure air from the impulse tank 37 is in pipe 72 leading to a starting valve 73. This starting valve has a disk 74 normally pressed to its seat by a spring 75 and nut 29 and movable therewith, so that when,

the nut is moved to open the muzzle door by rotation of the shaft 17, the starting valve disk 74 will be moved from its seat and air will be admitted through the starting valve to a pipe 83 leading to a solenoid valve 84. By the arrangement of-the yoke 77 of the valve disk 74 and the cooperating end of the spindle 76 it will be apparent that the starting valve disk is not unseated until the muzzle door has been partially opened. This prevents premature actuation of the firing mechanism with the muzzle door closed. 7

The solenoid valve 84 is in communication through a port 85 with the chamber 86 behind the piston valve 87 of a stop cylinder 88, and is actuated by means of the plunger 89 of a solenoid 90 striking against a rock lever 91 which unseats it by engagement with its stem 92.

When the solenoid valve is unseated and air is admitted through the port 85 behind the piston valve 87, this piston valve will be moved to the left (Fig. 1) and will uncover a port communicating with the end of a pipe 93, thus allowing the pressure air from the impulse tank to pass through the pipe 72, starting valve 73, pipe 83, port 85 and pipe 93 to the chamber of the firing valve body and above the piston 45 therein, to thereby unseat the firing valve and permit a charge of pressure air to pass thereby into the pipe 59 and through same into the check valve body, to thereby unseat the check valve and enter the torpedo tube behind the torpedo to fire the same from the tube.

Connected with the piston valve 87 is a rod 94 which upon movement of the valve will operate, through lever 95, the ordinary trip within the torpedo tube which starts the propellers of the torpedo in motion.

As hereinabove pointed out, the piston valve is moved to the left by air pressure and it is returned to the position shown by a spring 96.

In addition to the rack 82, the nut 29 carries a trip 97 which actuates a lever 98 controlling the cut-out switch indicated at 99 by which the circuit of the solenoid 90. is automatically controlled through the nut 29.

A push button is indicated by 100. This push button may be located at the firing control stationfor the purpose of energizing the solenoid 90 to fire the torpedo.

In order to prevent pressure from building upin either the pipe '9 or the pipe 83, I provide check valves 101 and 102 respectively, similar in all respects, and normally unseated: by springs 103 against the pressure of any air which may leak past the firing and starting valves respectively, but adaptedtoseat when full pressure air is admitted either to the firing valve body or the start ing'valvebody. By preventing the'building up of pressure in these two lines by such leakage, I guard against premature or un- 11 desired operation of any of the air responsive parts of the mechanism.

. It is sometimes desirable, for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not the firing mechanism is functioning properly, or for practice, to fire what is known as an air slug from the torpedo tube,.with the muzzle door closed and the breech door open, and inasmuch as this would be impossible with the parts of my interlocking and firing gear 1 in their normal operating positions, I provide means whereby the gear may be manip lated to reverse 1ts normal operation. To

. this end I form the shaft 17 in two parts,

the forward part of which is provided with-a keyed slidable clutch member 104 normally engaging with a comp-lemental clutch member 105' fixed to the after part of the shaft butslidable out of engagement therewith by actuation of a lever 1'06, and provided with teeth 107' adapted to mesh with complemental teeth 108 carried by a stationary bearing member 109, so that when the clutch is shifted from normal position in engagement with theclutch member 105 .to position in engagement with; the teeth 1108, the forward end of the shaft will be fixed against rotation and the afterend of the shaft is capable of being freely rotated independent-' 1y of its forward end; I'alsozprov'ide a lever 110 for shifting the gear 33' out. of. engage.

ment with the rack 34 so that the ringG may be turned independently oft-he stop mem her 35. Suitable means (not shown) may be provided for locking the levers 106 and 110 in both positions. Bythese means} it will be seen. that the breech door may be openedand the air control means may be adjusted to the positions hey will assume when the muzzle door is open in the normal operation of the device. I 7

In order that the clutch 104C and the gear and rack 33 and 34, respectively, may be properly meshed after being unmeshed for the purpose of firing an air slug, as above described, they may be provided with marks indicating their proper relative positions of assembly.

The operation of the device is as folsired to fire a torpedo from the tube 1, the torpedo is inserted in the tube through the breech in the usual manner, the breech door is closed, and the handle 14: is manipulated to rotate the ring G and lock the door in closed position. This rotation of the ring 6 rotates the shaft 32 through the rack 34 and gear and moves the abutment 35 downwardly and out of position to obstruct the forward movement of the nut 29 The breech door being closed, it is now safe to open the muzzle door, and this isdone by applying a handle or wrench to the squared end 18 ot the shaft 17 and rotating the shaft in contra'clockwise direction. This rotation of the shaft 17 opens the muzzle door by operating the worm and sector gearing (19-20) connected therewith, and at f the same time by means of the rack 82 and pinion 81 opens the starting valve 73, and.

through the trip 97 closes the switch 99. The opening of the starting valve 73 permits the air pressure in the body 39 of the stop valve 38, assuming 01 course that this valve o Jen to flow throu h the )i e 72 and i l o l P l P valve stem 92 of the solenoid valve and opens llh) this valve against the air pressure, permitting the pressure air behind same to pass through the port into the chamber 86 behindtne piston valve 87 and move this piston valve to the left to uncover the port 'communicat ing with the pipe. 93, at the same timeoper- 1 at-ing the. trip to start the propellers: of the torpedo by actuation of the rod 94: and lever The piston valve having uncovered the port communicating with the pipe93, the air entering the chamber 86 throughthe port 85will pass through the pipe 93 into the chamberoiithe firing valve above the piston" 45, as above described, will open the firing valve, and permit the lull pressure of the alr in the-impulse tank 37 to pass through pipe 59'and open-the check valve 60, thus entering the torpedo tube behind the torpedo and forcing the torpedo out of the tube.

By mounting the firing valve assembly upon the impulse tank 37 rather than upon 7 the torpedo tube, as is-theusual practice,and connecting. the firing valve with the check valve by meansof the pipe 59,1 eliminate the usual inst-antaneous-admission to the torpedo tube ofthe high pressure.- air in the concentrated heavy impulsewhich hasQbeen. i

found in practice tosometimes collapse the tail of the torpedo. With my arrangement, the air pressure builds up slowly at first, and then rapidly, inthe pipe 59,and although entering the torpedo tube at full impulse the pressure does not enter it with the sudden hammer blow heretofore given, thus avoidin possible injury to the tail of the torpedo".

If for any reason it is desired to dispense with the operation of the firing mechanism by the electrical firing means, the firing mechanism may be actuated by the pull rod 111 by which the action of the solenoid plunger may be simulated. Valves 112 and 113 may be interposed in the pipes 72 and 93 respectively at any convenient point between the stop valve and starting valve and the firing valve body and stop cylinder, respectively, for the purpose of interrupting communication between these mechanisms when desired.

It will thus be seen that I provide an interlocking and firing gear for torpedo tubes of rugged and strong construction, not apt to become inoperative, and the parts of which are not apt to be broken, even if an operator attempts to force them, and I thereby guard against improper operation of the device which might be caused by breakage.

Furthermore, by so arranging my gear that the muzzle door cannot be opened unless the breech door is closed, and vice versa, and so that the firing mechanism cannot be actuated unless the breech door is closed and the muzzle door is open, when operating under normal conditions, I guard against injury to the boat, admission of sea water to the boat, and injury to those manning the apparatus.

I have herein particularly referred to my invention in its use in submarine torpedo boats, but as hereinbefore pointed out, it is equally well applicable to installation in land batteries, or in other types of installation where the torpedo is discharged below the surface and it is necessary in the interest of safety to guard against admission of water through the torpedo tube.

I have referred to specific details of construction of the various parts of my apparatus, but it is conceivable that changes may be made therein and different parts may be substituted without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is 1. In a firing and interlocking gear for torpedo tubes, the combination with a torpedo tube having a breech door and a muzzle door, of means comprising a rotatable shaft for imparting opening and closing movement to said muzzle door, means responsive to the rotation of said shaft and movable lengthwise thereof during such rotation, locking means cooperating with the breech door and movable with respect thereto to lock and unlock the same, and means actuated by said locking means and movable in response to the movement thereof to breech door unlocking position to interpose an obstruction in the path of movement of the movable means carried by said shaft to prevent actuation of the muzzle door actuating shaft when the breech door is unlocked.

2. In a firing and interlocking gear for torpedo tubes, the combination with a torpedo tube having a breech door and-a muz zle door, of a shaft and gearing for imparting opening and closingmovement to said muzzle door and provided with a worm, a nut on said shaft cooperating with said worm and movable lengthwise of said shaft upon rotation of the same to impart opening and closing movement to said muzzle door, a

locking member movable to lock and unlock said breech door, and means movable In response to the movement of said locking member and including an abutment, whereby upon movement of the locking member to breech door unlocking position said abutment will be projected into movement obstructing position with respect to said nut, so that when said breech door is unlocked, said shaft cannot be rotated to open said muzzle door.

3. In a firing and interlocking gear for torpedo tubes, the combination with a torpedo tube having a breech door and a muzzle door, of a rotatable shaft and gearing for imparting opening and closing movement to said muzzle door, a worm on said shaft, a nut cooperating with said worm and movable thereby lengthwise of said shaft in response to the rotation of the shaft, a movable locking ring adapted to lock and unlock said breech door, a rack carried by said ring, a gear meshing with said rack, and a movable abutment actuated by said rack and gear and adapted upon movement of said locking ring into breech door unlocking position to be projected into the path of movement of said nut to prevent actuation of the muzzle door operating means when the breech door is unlocked.

4. In a firing and interlocking gear for torpedo tubes, the combination with a torpedo tube having a breech door and a muzzle door, of a rotatable shaft and gearing for imparting opening and closing movement to said muzzle door, a worm on said shaft, a nut cooperating with said worm and movable thereby lengthwise of said shaft in response to the rotation of the shaft, a movable locking ring adapted to lock and unlock said breech door, a rack carried by said ring, a gear meshing with said rack, and a movable abutment actuated by said rack and gear adapted upon movement of said locking ring into breech door unlocking position to be projected into the path of Lil movement of said nut to prevent actuation of the muzzle door ope-rating means when the breech door is unlocked and movable upon breech door locking movement of said locking ring out of the path of movement of said nut, whereby said sha lt may be rotated to open the muzzle door, said nut when the muzzle door is open forming an obstruction to the movement of said abutment whereby said locking ring cannot be moved to breech door unlocking position when said muzzle door is open.

5. In a firing and interlocking gear for torpedo tubes, the c'ombination with a torpedo tube having a breech door and a muz zle door, of an impulse tank adapted tosu-pply compressed air for discharging a torpedo from said tube, afiring valvecontrolling. the escape of air from said tank, a checkvalve communicating with the tor;- pedo tube and in communication with said firing valve, a startingvalwccommunicating with said tank and adapted to receive pressure air therefrom, means for imparting opening and; closing movement to said muzzle door, means cooperating with said muzzledoor actuating means for opening and closing said? starting. valve in response to the opening and closing of said muzzle door respectively, means for locking, and unlocking said breech door, means responsive tothe locking and unlocking of said breech door for controlling, the actuation of the muzzle. door actuating means sothat when said breech door is open, said muzzle door cannot-be opened and viceversa, and means connected with said, starting valve and adapted to establish communication through said, firing valve b etweei'i said. tank and check valve, said communication estal lishingmeans. being, inoperative when said starting valve is closed andbeing therefore inoperative when. sa d breech door is open and said; starting valve being. so constructed as to remain closed. until the muzzle door is partially opened. I

6. In a, firing and interlocking gear for torpedo tubes, the combination withv a torpedo, tube-having. a, breech door and, a muzzle door, of an impulse tank adapted tosupply compressed air for discharging a tor pedo. from said tube, a firing valve controlling the. escape of air from. said tank, .a, check valve communicating withthe tor- .pedo tube andv in comn'mnication with said firing.- valve, a starting; valve communicating with said tank and adapted toreceive pressure air therefrom, means, for imparting opening and closingmovement to said muzzle -door, means cooperating with. said muzzle door actuating means for opening and closing said startingvalve in. response to the opening andclosing of saidmuzzledoor respectively, means. for locking. and unlock said breech door means responsive to the locking and unlocking of said breech door for controlling the actuation of the muzzle door actuating means so that when said breech door. is open, said muzzle door cannot be opened and vice versa,-means connectedwith said starting v, -ve and adapted to establish communication through said firing valve between said tank and check valve, said communication establishing means being inoperative when said starting valve is closed and being therefore inoperative when said breech, door is opened, and means for rendering said communication establishing means operative when said, breech door is. open, for the purpose specified.

7. In a firing and interlocking gear for torpedo tubes, the combination with a torpedo tube. having a breech door and a muzzle door, of an impulse tank adapted to supply compressed air to said torpedo tube for the purpose of firing a torpedo therefrom, a check valve conmiunicating with said torpedo tube, a firing valve in, communication with said check valve, and controllingcommunication between said check valve and said tank, a, starting valve communicating with. said tank and adapted to receive; pressure air therefrom, means for imparting opening and closing movement to said muzzle door, means. actuated by said muzzle door actuating means for opening and closingsaid starting valve as said muzzle door isopened and closed respectively, a solenoid valve communicating with said startin valve, means for actuating said solenoid valve at wilh means for imparting opening movement to said firing valve-in response to the actuation of said solenoid valve, means for locking. and unlocking said breech door, means operative in response to the actuation of said breech door locking andunlocking means. for controlling the actuation of the muzzle door actuating means,whereby when said breech door is unlocked said solenoid valve will be incapable of rendering operative the means for imparting opening movementto, said firing valve.

8. In a firing and interlocking gear for torpedo tubes, the combination with a torpedo tube having a. breech door and a muzzle door and means for supplying-pressure air to said tube for the purpose of discharging a torpedo therefrom, of electrically actuated means for controlling the admission of compressed air tOsai'dtube and. including a switch, means for imparting-opening and closing movement to said muzzle door, means for closing and opening said switch in response to the opening and closingo-t said muzzle door respectively,whereby said electrically actuated means are rendered operative upon. the opening of said muzzle door and inoperative when it is closed, means for locking and unlocking said breech door, and'means operative in response to the breech door locking and unlocking means for preventing actuation of the muzzle door actuating means when the breech door is unlocked, whereby closing of said switch by said muzzle door actuating means is prevented when said breech door is unlocked.

9. In a firing and interlocking gear for torpedo tubes, the combination with a torpedo tube having a breech door and a muzzle door and means for supplying pressure air to said tube for the purpose of discharging a torpedo therefrom, of electrically actuated means for controlling the admission of compressed air to said tube and including the admision of compressed air to said tube and including a switch means for imparting opening and closing movement to said muzzle do'or, means for closing and opening said switch in response to the opening and closing of said muzzle door respectively. whereby said electrically actuated means are rendered operative upon the opening of said muzzle door and inoperative when it is closed, means for locking and unlocking said breech door, means operative in response to the breech door locking and unlocking means for preventing actuation of the muzzle door actuating means when the breech door is unlocked, whereby closingot said switch by said muzzle door actuating means is prevented when said breech door is unlocked, and means for rendering inoperative the means for preventing actuation of the muzzle door actuating means so that said switch may be closed when said muzzle door is closed and said breech door is open, for the purpose specified.

10. Tu a firing and interlocking gear for torpedo tubes, the combination with a torpedo tube having a breech door and a muzzle door. oi a check valve communicating with said torpedo tube, an impulse tank, a firing valve and connections for establishing communication through said firing valve between said tank and said check valve a starting valve communicating with said impulse tank and adapted to receive pressure air therefrom. means for imparting opening and closing movement to said muzzle door. means actuated by said muzzle door actuated means for opening and closing said starting valve in response to the opening and closing of said muzzle door respectively. a solenoid valve in communication with said startingvalve. electrical means for actuating said solenoid valve, a stop cylinder in communication with said solenoid valve, a valve in said cylinder, a. piston for actuating said firing valve, a cylinder in which said piston travels, means affording communication between said stop cylinder and the cylinder of said firing valve piston, means in said stop cylinder for controlling the communication between same and the cylinder of sari d firing valve piston, whereby upon opening of said solenoid valve when said starting valve is open, the communication between said stop cylinder and the cylinder of said firing valve piston will be opened and said firing valve will be unseated and communication established between said impulse tank and said check valve to unseat the check valve and admit a firing charge of compressed air to said torpedo tube, means for locking and unlocking said breech door, and means controlled by said locking and unlocking means for controlling the actuation of said muzzle door actuating means, whereby said starting valve and hence said firing valve cannot be opened when said breechv door is open.

11. In a firing and interlocking gear for torpedo tubes, the combination with a torpedo tube having a breech door and a muzzle door, of a check valve communicatwith said torpedo tube, an impulse tank, a firing valve and connections for establishing communication through said firing valve between said tank and said check valve, a starting valve communicating with said impulse tank and adapted to receive pressure air therefrom, means for imparting opening and closing movement to said muzzle door, means actuated by said muzzle door actuated means for opening and closing said starting valve in response to the opening and closing of said muzzle door respectively, a solenoid valve in communication with said starting valve, electrical means for actuating said solenoid valve and including a switch, means operated in unison with the opening and closing of said muzzle door for closing and opening said switch respectively, a stop cylinder in communication with said solenoid valve, a valve in said cylinder, a piston for actuating said firing valve, a cylinder in which said piston travels, means afi'ording communication between said stop cylinder and the cylinder of said firing valve piston, means in said stop cylinder for controlling the communication between same and the cylinder of said firing valve piston, whereby upon opening of said solenoid valve when said starting valve is open, the communication between said stop cylinder and the cylinder of said firing valve piston will be opened and said firing valve will be unseated and communication established between said impulse tank and said check valve to unseat the check valve and admit a firing charge of compressed air to said torpedo tube, means for locking and unlocking said breech door, and means controlled by said locking and unlocking means for controlling the actuation of said muzzle door actuating means, whereby said start-ing valve and hence said firing valve cannot be opened when said breech door is open.

torpedo tubes,

12-. In a firing and interlocking gear for the combination with a torpedo tube of a firing valve and means atfording communication, therebetween, and

a swirl reducer cooperating with said firing valve and including means for retarding the ipedo' tube ozfi an impulse tank, a firing valve controlling passage of compressed air from said, tankto said tube, meansafi'ording communication between said, firing valve and torpedo tube,, and a swirl reducer cooperating with.- said firing valve and including means for retarding the closing movement of said firing valve in response to predeter-V mined pressure, of the sea water at the muzzle of said torpedo tube and thereby conserving the. supply of compressed air in said impulse tank.

14. In afiring and inter-lockinggear for torpedo tubes, the combination with a torpedo tube of a firing valve and means af fording communication therebetweemand a swirl reducer cooperating with said firing valve and including adjustable means for retarding the olosingfmovement of said firing valve in response .to predetermined pressures of the sea water at the muzzle of said torpedo tube.

In testimony whereof" I have hereunto set,

my hand this 8 day ofMay A. D; 1924.

. ERIC G. BJORKLUNDJ Witnesses C 13'. Comm, ESTHER M. DUNN. 

